Device for adjusting the position of a side mirror

ABSTRACT

The device according to the invention is characterized in that a toothed rack ( 7 ) is articulated to the mirror foot ( 2 ) into which a toothed wheel ( 6 ) engages which is moved by a drive ( 5 ) fastened to the mirror frame ( 1 ). The mirror frame ( 1 ) is also articulated to the mirror foot ( 2 ) via an intermediate joint ( 8 ) articulated via a second rotating axle ( 10 ) different from the first. A hooked spring ( 12 ) which locks the mirror frame ( 1 ) to the mirror foot ( 2 ) enables the mirror frame ( 1 ) to move between two predetermined positions. The mirror frame can be moved from any position thereof by the drive ( 5 ) into the two positions and between the two positions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 09/194,888 filed on Sep.21, 1999 U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,637 which is a 371 of PCT/DE97/01128 May30, 1997, which claims priority to German application no. 196 23 885.4filed on May 6, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for adjusting the position of a sidemirror for vehicles of all kinds.

2. Description of the Related Art

Such adjusting devices of manually, mechanically or also electricallydriven manner are particularly used with motor vehicles, in order tomove the side mirrors between different positions. In particular, theside mirrors are reciprocated by such devices between a predetermined,folded driving position and a parking position having the mirror surfaceapplied against the vehicle.

So called two axis side mirrors usually have a mirror foot designed tobe fixed to the vehicle and a mirror head movably fastened on the mirrorfoot, with the mirror head comprising a mirror frame, which for examplecarries the mirror surface member as well as a mechanically orelectrically actuated adjusting mechanism thereof also for adjusting theangle of view related to the driver's sitting position.

An adjusting device having a mirror foot, a mirror frame and a toothedwheel mechanism, via which the mirror frame is moved relative to themirror foot is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,390. The toothed wheelmechanism comprises a double armed supporting rod, which is rotatablyarticulated to the mirror foot and an arm thereof is formed as a toothedquadrant, and comprises an electric drive, which is designed to be fixedto the mirror frame and drives a toothed wheel engaging the toothedquadrant. The mirror frame is rotatably articulated to the end of thesecond arm of the supporting device. When the electric motor is nowactuated, the toothed wheel rolls off on the toothed quadrant and themirror frame is rotated about the axis of the articulation on thesupporting rod.

The adjusting device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,390 furthercomprises a clock spring connecting the mirror foot and mirror frame andbeing strongly biased such that by virtue of the spring force the mirrorframe is rotated about the axis of the rotatable articulation of thesupporting device on the mirror foot, until projections fastened to themirror frame engage into stops being respectively arranged on the mirrorfoot. Accordingly, the mirror is essentially retained by means of thetensile force of the clock spring in its predetermined positions such asin a folded parking position or a swung out driving position.

When a great external force such as an impact is exerted upon the mirrorhousing in the direction of motion of the vehicle, the tensile force ofthe spring is overcome and the mirror is folded about the articulationof the supporting rod on the mirror foot in the direction of motion intoa safety position. However, the position of the toothed wheel does notchange with it in relation to the toothed quadrant. Accordingly, it isdisadvantageous with this adjusting device, that a motor-driven reset ofthe mirror housing from this overstretched position into the drivingposition is not enabled. The mirror head has to be manually restored,accordingly, from the safety position into the driving position andparking position respectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device foradjusting the position of a side mirror for vehicles of all kinds, whichenables the mirror also to restore from the overstretched position intoa predetermined position by means of a drive.

By providing with the device according to the invention a joint rod aswell as a toothed quadrant being rotatably articulated to the mirrorfoot, with the joint rod connecting the mirror frame and beingarticulated to a second rotational axis being different from the firstrotational axis on the mirror foot, it is possible with the deviceaccording to the invention to drivingly restore the mirror from theposition being overstretched in the driving direction into apredetermined position such as into the common folded driving positionwhen in use.

Since with the device according to the invention a clock spring is nolonger required, less expenditure of force is sufficient to move themirror frame. Accordingly, a weak drive for example a weak electricmotor is absolutely sufficient for the motion of the mirror frame, suchthat actuations of small construction, which are incorporable into smallsized mirrors as well can also be used.

The same mirror construction, i.e. the same mirror foot and mirror framecan be used for side mirrors having a manual, mechanical or electricadjusting. Thereby the manufacturing requirement and piece cost arereduced.

By means of the toothed rack the drive can be fastened nearly to anyplace of the frame, such that an optimal positioning of the driverelative to the forces and dynamic effect used is advantageously enabledabout half way to the mirror frame.

When the mirror frame is locked to the second rotational axis, so themotions of the mirror head between the first predetermined position anda second predetermined position is enabled without the locking to bereleased. This second predetermined position is for example the parkingposition, in which the mirror is folded against the vehicle such thatthe mirror surface member furthest possibly abuts against the vehicle.In this case, it is possible for the drive to reciprocate the mirrorhead between these two predetermined positions with only lessexpenditure of force, wherein a motion of the mirror into the safetyposition by virtue of strong external forces is possible, nevertheless,by overcoming the locking. It is possible for the drive, in particular,to move the mirror from this safety position again into a positionbetween these two predetermined positions as well, and then to restorethe locking.

When the drive is provided with an overload release, thus the drive isself-disengaging, when the mirror during motion from the drivingposition reaches the parking position having the mirror surface adjacentto the vehicle, or reaches the safety position of the mirror, which isoverstretched into the other direction from a driving position.

To employ a sliding clutch satisfies the legal requirement with regardto the protection of objects impacting upon the mirror and enables anexact adjusting of the manual adjusting force of the mirror frame.

In combination with dimensioning of the electric motor and the slidingclutch, it can be achieved that the drive is able to move the mirrorframe under its own power merely between the two predeterminedpositions, wherein the drive is respectively self-disengaging by meansof an overload release, for example, with reaching the two positions byvirtue of the resistance, which the locking in the driving position orthe mirror foot in the parking position resist to the motion in thesetwo positions.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of such a locking devicecomprises a hooked spring fastened to the mirror frame, whichencompasses the second rotational axis. When the locking device engages,so the mirror position is uniquely related between the two predeterminedpositions of the toothed wheel position on the toothed quadrant.

An additional biased clock spring forcing the mirror head to the mirrorframe reduces possible vibrations of the mirror head in particular withmirror heads being manually actuated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter an exemplary embodiment of the device according to theinvention will be described, in which

FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 shows a device according to the invention in differentpositions of the mirror frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a side mirror according to the invention in the drivingposition. The side mirror comprises a mirror foot 2 and a mirror head,wherein the mirror head inter alia includes a mirror frame 1 and acovering 3 fastened to the mirror frame 1 as well as a mirror surfacemember 4. The mirror frame 1 is designed to be fixed to an electricmotor 5, which drives a toothed wheel 6 via an output shaft. The toothedwheel 6 engages a toothed rack 7, which in turn is rotatably articulatedto the mirror foot 2. The toothed rack 7 is encompassed of a guidingmember 17 and comprises an end stop 18.

Furthermore, the mirror frame 1 is connected to the mirror foot 2 via anintermediate joint 8, wherein the intermediate joint 8 is articulatedabout a rotational axis 9 to the mirror frame as well as about a secondaxis 10 to the mirror foot 2.

Furthermore, a hooked spring 12 is fastened to the mirror frame 1, whichencompasses the second rotational axis 10 being locked with the mirrorfoot 2.

In the parking or driving positions the inner space of the mirror isprotected against external influences by means of the sealing elements14 and 15.

The mirror head further comprises a stop 13, against which theintermediate joint abuts in the driving position of the mirror head. Inthis driving position the toothed wheel 6 is upon the toothed rack 7 ina position comprising the lowest possible distance of the toothed wheelrelative to the mirror foot 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates the same mirror as FIG. 1 in the so called parkingposition, in which the mirror surface 4 is abutted particularly closeagainst the vehicle. In FIG. 1 to 4 the same numerals indicate the samestructural members.

For the so called parking position is characterizing, that the hookedspring 12 is locked with the second rotational axis 10, wherein thetoothed wheel 6 is simultaneously in a position, which has the greatestdistance from the mirror foot 2 along the toothed rack 7.

FIG. 3 illustrates the mirror of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in an overstretchedposition, into which the mirror can be brought such as by an externalmechanical effect in the driving direction of the vehicle. In thisposition as well as with the parking position, the toothed wheel 6 is ina position being possibly remote from the mirror foot along the toothedrack 7. In contrast to the parking position, however, in thisoverstretched position the hooked spring 12 is unlocked from the secondrotational axis 10.

The mirror can be moved back from the overstretched position in FIG. 3into the driving position as shown in FIG. 1, seesawing the toothedwheel driven by means of the drive 5 upon the toothed rack 7 towards themirror foot 2, until the hooked spring 12 locks again into the secondrotational axis 10. When the toothed wheel subsequently runs again onthe toothed rack 7 off of the mirror foot 2, such that a rotation of themirror head about the second rotational axis 10 into the parkingposition takes place as shown in FIG. 2. In similar manner, the mirrorcan be brought again by means of the drive from the parking positioninto the driving position, by seesawing of the toothed wheel 6 driven bythe drive 5 on the toothed rack 7 towards the mirror foot.

However, the drive 5 is dimensioned in a manner, that it is not capableto release a locking of the hooked spring 12 about the second rotationalaxis 10, such that the mirror head remains in the parking position. Inthis case the drive 5 is protected from overloading by an overloadrelease.

A stop means 13 is mounted to the mirror foot 2, against which theintermediate joint 8 abuts in the driving position. For theoverstretched position and parking position respectively a stop can alsobe provided, so that the mirror head remains in a predeterminedposition. Certainly, it is also possible to use the vehicle itself orthe mirror foot 2 respectively as a stop for the parking oroverstretched positions.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 the mentioned overload release as well as a slidingclutch are not shown, which enables the toothed wheel 6 to seesaw uponthe toothed rack 7 with the action of external forces, without theelectric drive 5 being moved. Via this sliding clutch, in particular,this force is adjustable, which is required for manually adjusting themirror head.

Another possibility is in that to withdraw from the drive 5, in order torealize a simple conventional manual side mirror. According to FIG. 4 abiased flat spiral spring 18 forcing the mirror head against the mirrorfoot 2 can be provided between the mirror foot 2 and the mirror frame 1.Therefore it is advantageous, that the same mirror foot 2 and the samemirror frame 1 can be used for the simple conventional side mirror aswell as for the side mirror equipped with a drive 5.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for adjusting the position of a sidemirror on a vehicle comprising: a mirror foot adapted to be fixedlyattached to the vehicle; a mirror head having a mirror frame supportinga mirror surface member housed within a covering; and an intermediatejoint abutting between said mirror foot and said mirror frame in adriving position and extending longitudinally between a first endarticulated to a first rotational axis rotatably interconnecting saidmirror frame and said intermediate joint for rotating said mirror headfrom said driving position to an overstretched position with said mirrorframe spaced from said intermediate joint and a second end articulatedto a second rotational axis rotatably interconnecting said mirror footand said intermediate joint for rotating said mirror head from saiddriving position to a parking position with said intermediate jointspaced from said mirror foot.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1further including a locking device operably coupled between said mirrorframe and said intermediate joint for releasably locking said device insaid driving position.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidlocking device comprises a hooked spring which encompasses said secondrotational axis of said intermediate joint as a locking projection tosaid mirror frame to said second rotational axis.
 4. A device as setforth inc claim 1 further including a biasing member interconnectedbetween said mirror head and said intermediate joint generally midwaybetween said first and second ends for biasing said device in saiddriving position.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 1 further includinga toothed wheel mechanism having a toothed wheel engaged with a toothedquadrant, which is articulated to an intermediate rotational rotatablycoupled on said mirror foot for guiding said mirror head between saiddriving, parking overstretched positions.
 6. A device as set forth inclaim 5 further including a drive fixedly supported by said mirror frameand operatively coupled to said toothed wheel for driving said wheelalong said toothed quadrant to articulate said mirror head between saiddriving position and said parking position.